A CAMPAIGN to reopen the rear gate at Sandbach Cemetery to allow easy access to graves will get the attention of community leaders today.

A petition signed by 94 people says that elderly people have been unable to tend the graves of loved ones for months because of the distance to the front entrance.

They want the gate at the rear of the cemetery to be reopened. The matter will be considered by members of Congleton Borough Council's executive committee at 6pm.

The petition, passed to the authority by Sandbach town councillor David Lloyd-Griffiths, reads: 'We, the undersigned, request the reopening of the gate giving access to the cemetery from the playing fields.

'We are aware of the reason for the gate being closed due to yobbish behaviour, but some of the older residents have been unable to visit the graves of loved ones because of the extra walking distance involved.'

The gate was closed after a successful campaign for tighter security at the cemetery, spearheaded by Viv Ruscoe, of Elton Road, Ettiley Heath. It was launched after her son Connor's grave was trashed last year.

But the security measure could be shelved if the executive gives the go-ahead at the meeting.